New biofuel targets came into force on 15 April 2018 which aim to double the use of renewable fuels in the UK transport sector by 2032, thereby removing reliance on imported diesel. Companies supplying over 450,000 litres of transport fuel in a year will have to supply a mix which is at least 12.4 percent biofuel by 2032, with an interim target of 9.75 percent in 2020. These are suppliers to haulage firms and airlines, who were previously expected to meet a target of just 4.75 percent biofuel.

Other targets include advanced waste-based renewable fuels, starting at 0.1 percent in 2019 and rising to 2.8 percent in 2032 and setting a sustainable level for crop biofuels to be reduced to 2 percent in 2032.

This is the first time that the UK will support and reward the production of sustainable renewable aviation fuels in the UK, as they receive the same economic incentives given to road vehicles. The UK government initiative has already given £22 million in funding for waste-based advanced low carbon fuels, and Britain plans to build Europe’s first waste to jet biofuel plant in Britain, creating UK jobs and growth.

Low-carbon electricity generation

A full load of washing in your washing machine or tumble dryer is more efficient than two half-loads. Dry your washing outside if you can. If you want a tumble dryer, be aware there are three types: vented, condenser and heat-pump. The first is just blows hot air, like a big hair-dryer, but the other two are more energy efficient. A condenser can be almost double and a heat-pump tumble dryer almost three times more expensive than a vented machine but use about half the energy. If you do not already have a tumble dryer, the cheapest option is to use a heated clothes airer

Energy-efficient lighting

The UK government Contracts for Difference (CfD) scheme is the gateway for supporting low-carbon electricity generation. It provides project developers with protection from volatile wholesale prices and protects consumers from paying increased support costs when electricity prices are high. Two rounds of sealed bids have already taken place, with successful developers of renewable projects paid a flat rate for the electricity they produce over a 15-year period. The third round will open in May 2019 and will be open to less established renewable technologies.

Regulation of the Coal producing

The UK government has said it wants to phase out all coal-power generation by 2025. In 0218, coal provided about 5 percent of the country’s energy, reporting a drop of 25 percent in output. This is thanks to renewable energy sources increasing their share of the UK’s electricity supply in 2018, with new wind farms and biomass plants helping renewables contribute a record 33 percent of the country’s power in the past year.

In addition, the amount of electricity produced in the UK in 2018 was at its lowest level since 1994, despite population growth. The reduced need for power is due to increasingly efficient use of energy and the country’s changing economy. Also, in 2018, for the first time ever, more than half of the UK’s power generation was low-carbon.

The future

The change will continue within the UK government due to commitments it has agreed under the Paris Climate Agreement, together with its obligations under the 2009 Renewable Energy Directive, which set a target for the UK to achieve 15 percent of its energy consumption from renewable sources by 2020. The political and legislative uncertainty resulting from the UK’s referendum vote to exit the European Union, are probably the biggest challenges in the renewable energy markets.